A YORK plasterer who risked many lives while driving a stolen Land Rover and caravan during a police motorway chase has been jailed for 27 months.

David Michael O'Loughlin, 36, was taking the vehicles from York to Leicester when caravan owner Stephen Bell, on his way to York races, saw his property go past in the opposite direction, set off in pursuit and alerted police by mobile phone, said James Robinson, prosecuting.

That sparked a police chase along the M1 near Aberford; the A642; the A63 and through Castleford until the Land Rover combination jack-knifed so suddenly that the pursuing police car had to brake suddenly to avoid a collision.

"There were numerous road traffic violations during a course of fleeing from the police, a series of incredibly dangerous manoeuvres and, in the end, driving on metal rims involved," said the Honorary Recorder of York Judge Paul Hoffman.

"It is providential no one was actually hurt. Numerous people were put at risk."

He jailed O'Loughlin for 27 months, banned him from driving for three years and ordered him to retake his driving test.

O'Loughlin, of Burgess Walk, Foxwood, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, handling a stolen Land Rover and caravan and driving whilst disqualified and without insurance.

The court heard he had been banned last year for three years for his second drink-driving offence.

His barrister, Michael Bosomworth, said he had no mitigation.

He had been living temporarily with thieves and, without thinking, he had agreed to drive the stolen vehicles to Leicester.

Mr Robinson said that the Land Rover was stolen from Hewley Avenue, York, and the caravan from a compound in Thorp Arch. The next day, Mr Bell spotted his caravan.

During the chase, the police mounted a major operation to catch O'Loughlin, including stopping traffic on the M1. They saw the caravan swaying from side to side and its tyres were punctured as it hit an obstacle.

O'Loughlin continued driving as the caravan tyres shredded until he was driving it on metal rims.

Mr Bosomworth said that O'Loughlin turned to drink in about 2000 when his long-term relationship broke up, which led to him being homeless.

He had now started a new relationship and was working as a plasterer.

Updated: 11:29 Tuesday, October 05, 2004